Digital Photography Books

A very usefull book, well written and with a deep analysis of the entire subject. I learnt more from this book then any other.

I felt there could have been much more tips and tricks on restoration of old photographs.

This is easily one of the best Photoshop retouching manuals ever. As a working photographer who enjoys doing his own retouching, I am always on the look-out for any instruction or manual that will make my job easier and workflow smoother. This book has migrated from my Photoshop bookshelf to join only four other books right alongside my monitor on my desk. When I need to address some specific problem that needs to be retouched, this is the first book I reach for.
The author has laid out the chapters in such a logical way, one only needs to look up the issue and go to the section that addresses the specific topic, a huge time-saver. As with Photoshop, there are many ways to correct images and this book presents quite a few new ones, even on techniques I use every day. I especially enjoy the before/after images and I'm sure many will benefit from the step-by-step lessons the author presents in a friendly, conversational way. Also, the "Tip" and "Caution" highlights are very helpful and concise.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to work in PS3 efficiently and profitably. Truly a Photoshop Retouching Bible in every way!

This book is more than just a restoration and retouching. Mark Fitzgerald has included the basics of photoshop in a clear and easy to understand way. The book is easy to navigate and find answers to your questions. One of his suggestions saved me hours of work. I highly recommend this book, it is a must have in anyone's photoshop library!

Having read most of the various Adobe Photoshop Help books, this book Photoshop CS3 Restoration and Retouching by Mark Fitzgerald is hands down the most organized and helpful of them all. His information is never too verbose which is a plus in a world of complex computer jargon.
Anyone, who has read books on this subject will be pleasantly surprised by the wealth of information (and how to use it) that the author has put forth.
Stephen Anderson

Mr. Smith's book is well illustrated and supported by the accompanying CD (images to work with that are in the book). His explanations are clear to the Photoshop user and he does explain some terms, as in methods of cropping and re-sizing an image and which method is suited for which type of image), file formats of images, and other areas like the applications under adjustments that I had not used until I began working with the book.
I have found some techniques that are similar to other authors (Scott Kelby, in particular, whose books I have enjoyed quite a lot), and that was part of my interest in purchasing the book-to broaden my reference library with people aside from Kelby, Deke McClelland, and some folks on-line like Earth-Bound Light and Photography, etc). I recommend purchase. Readable, well cross-referenced, and helps deliver results.

Excellent training material. I would also recomment The Photoshop CS2 Book For Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. The combination is outstanding.

I was really surprised this was such an excellent book. Usually I just read the chapters I am interested in , but I read this whole book--it was just so instructional and one that I will keep close to the computer for reference book.

I am an amaetuer photographer. This book has helped me fine tune my photos and bring out its full potential. I will gladly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain more knowledge on photography and perhaps learn a very powerful photo editing tool.

This book has a lot of good information in it, but is not well written. You may be halfway through a paragraph before you get to the topic sentence and figure out what the author is talking about. It often takes a second or third trip through a paragraph to figure out what it's about. The author also is not consistent with his word usage. I've found as many as three or four different words used for the same thing. For instance luminosity and brightness are used interchangeably, sometimes on the same page or even the same paragraph. So, using the book can be frustrating, though the author clearly knows Photoshop and I have learned a lot from the book.
The book does not mention or discuss some of the neatest features of Photoshop CS2 including some of the Automate features such as Merge to HDR (high dynamic range). This feature combines an underexposed and an overexposed picture into one high dynamic range image (bright areas are not washed out and dark areas are not black). This is an amazing capability that is not mentioned.
I would buy this book again, but only after searching diligently for one that covers the same scope or more and is better written. Actually, I'd probably get a book that covers CS3 as well, and hopefully indicates where features are unique to CS3. Or maybe just a CS3 book if you are going to upgrade. I understand the upgrade to CS3 is well worth the price even though it is now $200. Ease of use alone makes CS3 valuable to novices from what I've read.

Do you need help with your photography skills? If you do, then this book is for you. Authors David Pogue and Derrick Story, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that is designed to serve as the iPhoto manual.

Pogue and Story, begin by covering buying, using, and exploiting your digital camera. Then, the authors cover the fundamentals of getting your photos into iPhoto. Organizing and filing them, searching them, and editing them to compensate for weak lighting. Next, they cover the many ways iPhoto can present those photos to other people. Finally, the authors cover a miscellaneous potpourri of additional iPhoto features, including: turning photos into screen savers or desktop pictures on your Mac; exporting the photos in various formats; using iPhoto plug-ins and accessory programs; managing Photo Libraries; backing up your photos using iPhoto's Burn to CD command; and, even getting photos to and from camera phones and Palm organizers.

This most excellent book provides an invaluable grounding in professional photography. Perhaps more importantly, this book gives you all you need to know about digital photography!

Some say lightening can never strike the same place twice. The Missing Manual series proves that wrong. David Pogue and the O'Reilly gang constantly hit the mark and spark creativity and knowledge in a variety of programs.

IPhoto 6 covers absolutely every aspect of digital photography on your Mac, leaving few stones unturned. In order to make sure you get the great photos you need and minimized the editing needed in iPhoto, Derrick Story and David Pogue make sure you buy the right digital camera for your needs and tells you the basics of lighting and composition. After reading that chapter, I looked at my own iPhoto library and understand why I liked certain shots and why others ended up on the digital darkroom floor.

After explaining how to buy a camera and create great photos, the authors take you through the steps of using iPhoto in logical order: importing, managing, outputting and of course backing up. More technical manuals need to do this. Instead of taking you through the features, they take you through the workflow.

The writing was typical of the series: clear, understandable with plenty of screen shots to explain the concepts. While I consider myself an expert on iPhoto, the book was full of subtle tips and tricks to shave hours off my digital photo management.

The strength of the book was definitely the extensive chapters on what to with your photos after they are in iPhoto. Photos are meant to be shared, not locked up in your hard drive. He went over not just the specifics of all the printing options such as photo books and calendars, but also using iMovie, iWeb, and iDVD to share the photos with the world.

The final chapters covered some more advanced options such as AppleScript and Automator. Unlike other Missing Manual books that simply point you to the website to download utilities, Pogue and Story explained some of these programs and how they can help you expand your iPhoto capabilities. The Appendix was definitely the icing on the cake handling practically every iPhoto error and it's solution, as well as walking you through the basics of every iPhoto menu command and its implications.

My only complaint was somewhat weak coverage on desktop printing of photos. I always get confused about the way to feed the photo paper and how to configure settings to get the proper output. iPhoto, the printer's software, the printer, and Mac OS X must all be in alignment to print properly. These days, I simply upload it to the drugstore website and print it there. Printing to services other than Apple's wasn't really covered either.

While iPhoto basics are simple and quick to learn, "iPhoto 6 the Missing Manual" helps you become the hands down master of digital photos on your Mac. Others will tremble in fear of your massive knowledge after reading this book cover to cover.

Pros: Covers every aspect of digital photography and makes everyone an iPhoto wiz.
Cons: Needed more coverage of desktop and third party printing of photos.

ANY question you might have, any project you might conjure up.....this book has all the answsers in the most easy format. A must have if you have an iMac and a digital camera!

As a beginner with digital photography,there is a great deal of iPhoto that is intuitive;however,there are so many options and errors that can be made,at least in my limited experience,that this book is a constant reference guide. I previously purchased "Switching to Mac,The Missing Manual",and found it so valuable that I bought this "Missing Manual".This series of books has been both informative and entertaining.

Might not have much for experienced power users - but for me as a Mac newcomer it did the trick. iPhoto is easy to use and most things you can figure out by yourself, but this book is a big timer saver in doing so and has also some tips that you otherwise might not have figured out

I have purchased all of Bill Lemon's books and this is by far his best and most informative. The clarity of his concepts and techniques are as clear and catching as the images in the book. Bill Lemon keeps getting better and better. Cannot wait for the next one!

OUTDOOR GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHY: THE COMPLETE DIGITAL GUIDE TO TAKING SUCCESSFUL OUTDOOR GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, by Bill Lemon
COPYRIGHT © 2008 by Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.

One of Ernest Hemingway's most celebrated stories begins: "This is a clean and pleasant cafe. It is well lighted. The light is very good and also, now, there are shadows of the leaves." These words came to mind over and over as I perused the pages of Bill Lemon's absolutely gorgeous book, Outdoor Glamour Photography.

The book is a collection of lovely models, nude or partially clad, against a backdrop of varied settings, ranging from wheat fields, haunting forests, railroad tracks, and beat-up trucks. The facial expressions, the lighting, the contrast between the background and foreground, the composition, the choice of clothing--all are perfectly planned and lovingly explained in language accessible to an amateur or even an inexperienced photographer. The specifications of the camera and settings used are highlighted for easy reference. The results are stunning! Here is the life's work of a professional and teacher who knows what he's doing and shares how he does it. His appreciation of nature, the female body, and the technique of his trade all blend into an artistic masterpiece that must be seen and savored like a delicate soufflé.

What Hemingway is to fiction, Bill Lemon is to reality--without the angst of the proprietor of "A Clean, Well Lighted Place. "Nada, y pues nada" is replaced by Keats' "thing of beauty" - a "joy forever." This book would be a welcome addition to any coffee table and any photographer who wants to explore the feminine mystique.

There are a number of these "How To" photography books out there, but this is the best! First of all the information is right to the point and not vague. The overall composition makes it easy to use if you need to go back and look something up. Being this is not a hardback the quality of resolution and paper is surprisingly good. The models used in the photos are all top notch! There is not a weak photo in the entire book. Besides the great female models it includes the nationally famous "Equine Rock Star", Little Black Shiner. Believe me folks, you'll throw your other glamour photo books away when you get this. Enjoy it!

Bill has produced his best work in this volume of photography. Bill continues to dazzle his audience with his posing and shooting techniques.
This is a must have book, loaded with a vast quantity of posing ideas, following Bill's tutorial will enable the photographer to see light in a new way. Learn from one of the best with Outdoor Glamour Photography. Copy the posing and lighting ideas to create your own dynamic portfolio of sensational images.

If you're interested in outdoor glamour photography, this could be one of the most useful books you'll ever read. Lemon's book is packed full of specific and practical tips for experienced photographers alongside beautifully artistic sample photographs taken by Lemon himself.

Lemon opens with a brief introduction that gives an overview of some of his general techniques: he details how he uses his light meter, how he measures and perfects white balance, and why he shoots in fine JPEG as opposed to a raw format.

The rest of the book consists of photos accompanied by information about how Lemon set up and achieved various effects in the shoot. For each photograph, Lemon explains the lighting used, why the location was chosen, and information about the pose chosen for the model. A small sidebar box gives the camera, lens, shutter speed, and F-stop used. Woven throughout Lemon's descriptions are helpful tips on every imaginable aspect of photography from how to best use a polarizing filter to how to take into account texture and color when choosing a background for a model.

The photos included in the book are spectacular. All feature female models in various stages of undress (from completely nude to fully clothed) posed against every possible background--woods, grassy fields, old logs, rusted pick-ups, barns, haystacks, and corrugated metal walls. Most of the pictures are a full page in size; a few are impressive two-page spreads. Some of the photos may strike photographers as a bit too Playboy in style, but for the most part, they are tasteful and quite artistic. Lemon is clearly a talented photographer and Outdoor Glamour Photography gives enough information to help aspiring photographers benefit from his wealth of experience.

I really wish I had discovered this earlier! I received it yesterday and have already fell in love with the wide array of add-ins that are included on the cd. The book is a great tool to quickly identify the effect that I want. This is a must-have for anyone who has Photoshop Elements!

The book isn't worth much, but the plugins are great. The one click stuff is a great time saver for me, and it really does make things look more snappy without too much hassle. Well worth it for the CD full of plugins!

I love this book. I've already used alot of the layer styles already. Lots of examples. Tons of ideas.

I have had Photoshop Elements 2 for over a year, but until I got this book and CD ROM I had no idea just how creative I could be with the program. There were a lot of effects that I tried to apply to my art but did not quite get the results I desired. This book has helped me unleash my "creative genius". As graphic design student, I have found it to be the best investment I have made besides my computer components. You will find the book helpful, as well, to view the layer styles before applying them to your art. I had found at first that I spent a great deal of time applying and deleting styles and effects before finding the right one, and then I read the book (duh!). I found full-color samples of all the different presets contained on the disk scattered throughout the chapters. It is a small book, but it is very content-rich.

I had used Photoshop 7 in the graphic design lab at school , but I could not afford to buy it. This book and PSE 2 together cost less than $100, and I have no problem duplicating lessons and completing projects at home that are supposed to be done using PS 7.

When Adobe introduced Photoshop Elements it had a low-end program for newcomers to digital photography. It based the cut-down Elements program on its expensive and complex main Photoshop program. However, when you buy Elements you are actually installing quite a lot of the main program (even though no menu commands exist to use new features), and people have been finding ways to exploit the advanced features of Photoshop that Adobe thought would be too complex for Elements users.

Several web sites and two books supply software to advance the capabilities of Elements. One book lets you use some of the professional-level features of the main program, and the other provides some wild effects. That book is the One-Click Wow book I'm reviewing here (the other one is Richard Lynch's The Hidden Powers of Photoshop Elements).

Years ago I wrote a book on Photoshop version 3, and even without enhancements Photoshop Elements 3 is close to being equal to it. The effects in One-Click Wow can be done in several steps in the Main Photoshop program, and in fact that's how they're produced. Unfortunately the effects are of the "take it or leave it" variety - there's no way of altering them - but luckily Jack Davis has produced effects that will appeal to most people.

Because this is a "cheat" and not an officialy approved set of program extensions, you have to manually copy the extensions from the CD to your hard drive. If Elements is running you need to reboot, and then you'll find them listed in the menus for Layer Effects and other places.

One set of extensions work on photographs, and as well as those allowing you to change the appearance of the whole photograph there are other effects that let you add frames or edges. There's a whole series of effects that allows you to change a photograph so that it looks like a painting.

The major set of effects works on graphics and type. They'll change your designs and words to look like chrome or many kinds of natural materials, as well as plenty that look like neon signs. In fact there are several hundred effects, as well as extra brushes and patterns.

It's easiest to see this product not so much as a book, but more like a software add-on with an instruction manual that gives examples of almost every effect - in full color. There's even a multi-page tutorial in using the effects which should explain all you need to know about how to use them.

Davis has been producing the Photoshop Wow books of effects since the beginning of the main program, so the effects here will make a major difference to your pictures. What I've also noticed is the way Davis crops his pictures which is a tutorial in itself - he crops very tightly and you can see the improvement.

So if you can see a copy of this book before you buy it, take a look because what you see is what you're going to get. For most people it's a no-brainer buy, especially since even if you had the main Photoshop program you'd have to do numerous activities on your pictures to equal what you get here.

For the price, it's an amazing bargain for the extra powers you get. I have both this and The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements, and the two of them make Elements a much more powerful and worthwhile program.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Guide to Digital SLR Photography
This is a well written and well organized guide to operating the Rebel XT. I highly recommend it. Trying to learn from the owner's manual what this book describes and explains succintly and clearly, would literally take hours and hours. It is an essential read and a valuable tool for XT owners.

Would be better to read this book, then read the Canon manual.
Gives a little more in depth to the camera functions, as well as, good photography tips.

I found that the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Guide to Digital SLR Photography went one step past the camera manuel in all aspects of camera operation and explains how to make all of the settings to produce a good photograph. Basically, it helps you to learn how to use your new camera.

Through, well written, and well illustrated for the Canon XT and Canon accessories.

I have only one criticism: While the book does cover some items not made by Canon, it ignored other very useful accessories made by other manufacturers. For example, the Opteka BGRXT Grip for Canon XT. This grip houses twice the battery power in the form of either two of the stock batteries or six rechargeable NIMH AA batteries. More importantly, the grip allows much easier VERTICAL format picture taking.

Putting this minor criticism aside, every XP owner should own this book.

While the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT comes with a thorough owner's guide that nicely fits in your camera case or pocket, this fantastic book serves as a great combination of an informative beginner's guide to digital SLR photography AND an excellent manual specific to the Rebel XT that goes way beyond the included owner's guide in both detail and quality. Unlike the owner's guide, this book is illustrated with large color photographs of the XT's specific features and menus, as well as actual photographs taken with the XT to demonstrate the results of various camera settings and techniques. Even if you are an experienced SLR photographer, but are new to the XT, this book will be a valuable addition to your professional library. Even if you are the owner of a different digital SLR, this book will serve as a good introduction to digital SLR photography; but, I warn you, it will make you wish you had purchased the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT instead.

This is a perfect book for the amature who is trying to learn the right way to use the camera. Lots of great tips and easy to understand.

I learned more reading the first 75 pages than I had from reading the manual four times! But, I don't know how much is missed because the images are all in B&W and the author refers to the different colors in charts and photos. Still, this book is really excellent. This is my first DSLR and I had only taken 24 pictures in almost two years because I just couldn't understand it.

Very good book.
To figure out by yourself all tricks on Alpha 100 that author provide in this book you would probably need at least a 2-3 years. Strongly recomended. GREAT GUIDE.

This is the book that should have came with the camera. Now I have a better feeling how the camera works and how powerful the camera really is. I will be using the "AUTO" setting much less, and only when I don't have time to set anything. A great book.

I was surprised that a former rocket scientist could write such a clear, succinct and absolutely useful book. I have tried his suggestions with my a100 and have taken a few pictures I am very proud of. You cannot go wrong with this choice. Hard Copy or downloaded (print pages to take with you on theme shoots).

dateline 3 months later... I have since taken many more pictures with the Sony and Gary's guidance and am still very happy with the outcome.

I even took one of his weekend seminars and came out with much more knowledge than I took in. If you want to move your photography to the next step, check out his schedule on the website when you order.

My husband bought this for me when he bought me Photoshop Elements, and it was immensely helpful! I am now very comfortable in Photoshop, thanks to the easy to follow instructions and visuals.

The volume's strong point is its voluminous visual to illustrate every phase of digital photography from equipment to printing paper. It also bridges the gap from optical to digital photography. Technical in presentation ... for the experienced phohtographer ...

A profusely illustrated with more than 1500 full-color photographs, step-by-step 'how to' guide for taking great photographs and then digitally enhancing them using Photoshop, "Digital Photograph" by Michael Wright is very highly recommended both for its comprehensiveness and for being so 'user friendly' in its organization and presentation. Covering Photoshop essentials in general, including Photoshop 7 and Photoshop CS in particular, "Digital Photography" addresses simple and complex retouching techniques, removing 'red eye' from images, cloning, hand tinting, restoring old photographs, photo montages, digital painting, adding text to images, special effects, storing images, creating photo essays, printing, file size, composition, color theory, bracketing, lighting, backgrounding, and so much more. "Digital Photograph" is a single volume instructional guide that is strongly recommended for anyone aspiring to enhance their photography through Photoshop technology.

More pictures, less words, better understanding! This book truly is a step-by-step visual guide for taking pictures, and then whipping them into shape in Photoshop.

This book is not about about how to take better digital photos. It's a book that gives step by step instructions on how to do numerous photo editing. If you're not experienced in PhotoShop, then I highly recommend this book. For a novice, it might be a good refresher for you.

One of the things I love about this book is it actually does give step-by-step visuals on the how tos. It shows you what the photoshop box will look like, tells you were to find the tools you need, etc.

If that's what you're looking for, then this book is ideal for you. As I said, if you're a novice, it's a nice refresher or quick reference book.

This is a great book for beginners and professionals. Although, if you are a beginner, you will need some basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop CS2 or CS3.

Ctein does a great job of walking the reader through the individual photo restorations. He also lets the reader know about different types of software that will help with the restorations and how the software works. I found this to be very helpful.

I wish I had this book when I did my first restorations.

Although I am most heavily involved today in taking new photographs, I have an interest in restoring and repairing many old photographs that I have digitized with my scanner. This book is the best guide I have found for everything from minor fixes to full-blown reconstructions. It is highly recommended.

This is an excellent guide to restoration of old photos and negatives. Everything you'd want to have explained, laid out in step by step detail. This covers most all of the situations you're likely to be confronted with. Highly recommended.

This book is thoughtfully written with many good photo editing techniques that I haven't seen in other books. Worth the money. The author explains multiple methods for accomplishing similar results. A good book.

Once I started reading this book I had difficulty putting it down until I had finished it. It was so interesting to read how it would be possible to transform sometimes hopeless looking photos into beautiful photographs. It explains a lot about masking & curves adjustments & I feel that this book will be my restoration bible. Since I've had a computer less than a year & Photoshop for a few months, I didn't understand a lot of what I was reading, so I don't know if this should be a beginners first restoration book. It provides a sophisticated approach to digital photo restoration from scan to print.

After reading Peterson's books (understanding exposure, beyond portraiture, understanding shutter speed, and more) this book feels not technical enough. It misses technical information that would be very useful to people who'd like to learn, such as f-number, shutter speed, distance from object, metering mode and method etc. Though this information did appear in a few pages, it was not available throughout the book.

Still, the pictures are very appealing and the author does explain how he took them. A lot of emphasis was put on the social side of potrait photography. How to approach, how to get friendly, how to share your pictures. Also, the artistic sides are covered, how to "direct" your model, how to give attention to details (background, framing, light, shadows, etc.). Some technical aspects are indeed mentioned and a few tricks on exposure and light metering and white balance. Also the last few lessons in the book are some photoshop "how-to"s.

I liked the book. I enjoyed the pictures, I did my best to learn the messages from the lessons and liked a lot the authors attitude and explanation way.


To get a good understanding of what lessons are expected in the book take a look at the table of contents. Lessons are titled by the main tip that they deliver.

Rick Sammon is known for his travel and adventure photo guides, but FACE TO FACE offers something different: a focus on the art of making people pictures using a range of methods to capture subjects. These take the form of lessons contrasting different approaches to images and people, using Sammon's own subjects and methods as examples. It's an excellent guide for any photography library, particularly those specializing in portrait photography.

Face to Face by Rick Sammon is one of my favorites books on portrait photography.

It's full with stunning pictures of people from many places around the world. The pictures alone are worth the price of the book.

But in addition to the great pictures, the text is also very informative and entertaining.

Part 2 is my favorite part of the book and full of useful stuff. For example, Rick explains why you should not place the subject in the center for most shots, or why shooting both horizontal and vertical is a good idea for most subjects.

I like the authors writing style. The book is easy to read and the text is a perfect fit for the beautiful images. It never gets boring or too technical. It's clear that the author knows and lovers what he is doing and this is reflecting in his images and his writing.

If you want to improve your photography, I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I've hear that if you've read other books by Rick Sammon, it's more of the same. I never have and I felt like this book has improved my photography knowlede. So if you've never read a Rick Sammon book, definetly buy this one.

Thank you, Rick Sammon! The photographs are incredible The descriptions of how thy are done makes me feel as though I could run right over and make those pictures, too. He makes it sound so easy to be a world class photographer. Thank you for the information
Gayle Gahn